El-Zakzaky asking for five-star hotel, refusing to stay in hospital, says FG (Nation)
The Federal Government has accused leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky of being unruly in India. It denied hindering his treatment, stating the sect leader was instead requesting for five-star attention during his medical trip. In a statement Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Isu Gekpe, the federal government said since El-Zakzaky had a stop over in Dubai, he has been displaying ulterior motives against laid down procedures. Read more
Protesters defy security operatives, demand Sowore’s release (Punch)
Truckloads of security operatives on Wednesday blocked activists demanding the release of the former presidential candidate of African Action Congress in the last general elections and convener of #RevolutionNow protests, Omowole Sowore. The security personnel comprising soldiers, policemen as well as operatives of the Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Nigerian Prison Service, stormed the Unity Fountain, Abuja, venue of the protest but the activists defied them and carried on with their demand. Read more
I’ll fight insecurity to standstill, Buhari vows (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Batsari, Katsina State, vowed to fight insecurity and other attendant challenges facing the country to a standstill and ensure that perpetrators of banditry and kidnapping attacks are brought to justice. The President who made the pledge while on a sympathy visit to 1,050 internally displaced persons, IDP, selected from the affected 8 frontline local government areas bordering the Ruga Forest in the state, said those kidnapping, maiming lives and calling God are not true faithful because “it is either they don’t know God or disagree with Him.” Read more
I can’t be intimated by insurgents’ threats — Borno gov (Punch)
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State on Wednesday said he would not be deterred by insurgents’ intimidation and attacks in some resettled communities in the past weeks in the state. Zulum, who spoke at the inauguration of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Agro-Ranger squad, said his administration remained committed to ending insurgency and restoring peace to the state. “Let me assure our people that the recent intimidations by insurgents at Gajiram; Gajiganna, Dalori, and Gubio will never deter us from our commitments to finding peace and stability in the state. Read more
Troops uncover another illegal gun factory in Benue (Punch)
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke operating in Benue, Taraba, and the Nasarawa States have arrested 10 suspected criminals engaged in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and illegal arms manufacturing. Disclosing this while parading the suspects at the OPWS Headquarters in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Wednesday, Force Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, said six of the suspected criminals were arrested in Nasarawa State while four others were arrested in Benue State. Read more
No Igbo boy burnt alive in Kaduna, it’s fake news — Police (Guardian)
The Kaduna State Police Command says news circulating on social media that an Igbo boy was burnt alive in Kaduna is absolutely false. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Janga said in a press statement through the Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo on Wednesday in Kaduna. The statement said the fake news was published on Nairaland Forum, an online Media. Read more
Obaseki to investigate Uwelu Market fire incident (Punch)
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday said a team will be set up by his government to investigate the fire outbreak that destroyed millions of Naira worth for goods at Uwelu Auto Spare Parts market in Benin. Obaseki, who stated this while on a visit to the market assured the traders of government support so that they can get back to business. He said the committee would be given a week to carry out the investigation on the cause of the fire, ascertain the number of traders whose goods were damaged and the monetary value of goods lost, which will enable the state government in providing assistance to the victims. Read more
Dabiri-Erewa condemns killing of Nigerian pastor in China (Nation)
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has demanded for thorough investigation into the death of a Nigerian Pastor in China, Joseph Ogenna Nwajueze from the Chinese authorities. Nwajueze was alleged to have been killed by the Chinese security operatives. Dabiri-Erewa in a statement issued in Abuja by the NIDCOM Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that the death of the Nigerian Pastor based in China was condemnable. Read more
Robbery gang arrested in Lagos (Nation)
A four-man armed robbery gang operating along Ojuelegba to Ketu in Lagos has been smashed by the operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos state police command. The two suspects arrested are the commercial bus driver Ndidi Melenu 30 from Kwale, Delta state and his motor boy Emmanuel Shoko 31 while the other two are still at large. Read more
Graft fears as Liberia civil servants go unpaid (Guardian)
More than 15,000 Liberian civil servants have not been paid for months, government and judicial sources said Wednesday, reinforcing concerns over graft and economic mismanagement under President George Weah. Former footballer Weah, elected last year, has come under fire for alleged corruption as well as spiralling inflation in the West African state still emerging from two civil wars. “It is true that there is a delay in paying civil servants,” one senior government official told AFP, acknowledging that the workers have gone unpaid for between one and three months. Read more
Syria war: Rebels ‘shoot down government warplane’ (BBC)
A Syrian government warplane is reported to have been shot down as fighting continues in the rebel-held northern province of Idlib. Opposition sources said the jet had been brought down near the town of Khan Sheikhoun. Earlier reports said Russian-backed government forces had advanced to just a few kilometres from the town. Nearly 30 combatants are said to have been killed in overnight fighting. Read more
Epstein accuser sues his estate and staff amid flurry of New York lawsuits (BBC)
A woman who accuses Jeffrey Epstein of raping her when she was a teenager is suing his estate, his longtime girlfriend and three of his staff. The lawsuit, which was filed in New York on Wednesday, comes on the first day of a new rule that makes it easier for child sex abuse survivors to sue. Epstein, 66, was awaiting federal trial for sex trafficking when he was found dead in a Manhattan jail on Saturday. Read more
Boris Johnson: Brexit opponents ‘collaborating’ with EU (BBC)
Boris Johnson has accused MPs “who think they can block Brexit” of a “terrible collaboration” with the EU. The prime minister said the EU had become less willing to compromise on a new deal with the UK because of the opposition to leaving in Parliament. He said this increased the likelihood of the UK being “forced to leave with a no-deal” in October. But some MPs said his claim they were collaborating with the EU was a “wicked lie” and a “big deflection exercise”. Read more
China describes Hong Kong protests as ‘near terrorism’ (BBC)
China has condemned violent clashes in the Hong Kong protests as “behaviour that is close to terrorism” – in a sign of its rhetoric hardening. After days of peaceful protests at Hong Kong International Airport, clashes with police broke out on Tuesday night. Video showed an officer drawing his gun on protesters who beat him with his own truncheon during the disturbance. It is the second time in a week that Chinese officials have publicly likened the protests to terrorist activity. Read more
Trudeau broke rules in SNC-Lavalin affair, says ethics tsar (BBC)
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau violated federal conflict of interest rules in the handling of a corruption inquiry, the federal ethics tsar has found. The ethics commissioner says Mr Trudeau improperly tried to influence a former minister in the SNC-Lavalin affair. The prime minister says he accepts the commissioner’s report but disagrees with some of its conclusions. The findings could be an issue for Mr Trudeau in advance of October’s general election. Read more
British mum dies after being set on fire and strangled in Barbados (Metro)
A British mother-of-three died after she was set on fire and strangled as she lay in her bed in Barbados. The family of Luton-born Natalie Crichlow, 44, say they are ‘shocked and devastated’ after she was attacked by an unknown intruder in her bedroom on July 28 while visiting to take care of her disabled brother. Her niece Ashley Best has claimed the intruder broke in the house in Christ Church, before strangling her and setting her alight, leaving her with 75 per cent burns to her body. Read more
Mount Everest: Climbers set to face new rules after deadly season (BBC)
Climbers who want to attempt Mount Everest should first have to demonstrate that they are experienced mountaineers, a panel advising Nepal’s government has recommended. Its report proposes that applicants must already have climbed a Nepali peak of at least 6,500m (21,325ft).They should also have to provide a certificate of physical fitness, and employ experienced guides, it adds. Read more
ASAP Rocky breaks silence as he’s found guilty for assault in Sweden (Metro)
ASAP Rocky has broken his silence and says he hopes to ‘move forward’ after being found guilty of assault in Sweden. The rapper was handed a suspended sentence and was ordered to pay a fine over the assault, after a fight broke out between Rocky and two men who claimed his bodyguard had broken their headphones. ASAP and his team maintain it was in self-defence as the men refused to leave them alone. Read more
Afrobasket: D’Tigress take on CDR in quarter final (Nation)
Defending champions D’Tigress of Nigeria will take on Congo Democratic Republic in the first quarter final game at the Women Afrobasket in Dakar, Senegal. The Nigeria team booked its quarter final place after finishing first in Group B while the Congolese had to beat Cape Verde 78-46 in Wednesday’s round of 16 games to berth in the quarter final. The D’Tigress used Wednesday’s match to perfect their game plan for Thursday’s game against the Congolese as Coach Otis Hughley took his team through what they need to do against their opponents. Read more
Rohr invites two new players for Ukraine friendly (Guardian)
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has invited two new players for the friendly against Ukraine in September. Rohr announced his list of 23 players including 18 players from the team that finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and midfielder Joe Aribo were handed first-time invitations to play for the Super Eagles in the forthcoming friendly. Read more
Zimbabwe FA bans its former president, Philip Chiyangwa, for life (BBC)
The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) says it has banned its former president Philip Chiyangwa for life for “bringing Zimbabwean football into disrepute.” In a statement, Zifa accused Chiyangwa of “unilaterally submitting an incomplete bid document” to host this year’s Cosafa Cup “without getting a government guarantee.” Zimbabwe reneged on an agreement to stage the event, with South Africa taking over as hosts. Read more
Sierra Leone government rejects Ghanaian chosen to coach national team (Guardian)
The Sierra Leone government on Wednesday rejected the nomination of Ghana-born Sellas Tetteh to head the national football team, which has recently emerged from suspension by FIFA for political interference. On Tuesday the West African nation’s football federation chose 62-yeard-old Tetteh as the national coach, announcing that he would take up the post “in 48 hours”. The federation’s recruitment commission picked him over Spanish-Swiss Raoul Savoy, Dutchman Tahseen Jabbary and Englishman Peter Butler. Read more
Three things Frank Lampard has learned from Chelsea’s Super Cup defeat to Liverpool (Metro)
Frank Lampard is still searching for his first win as Chelsea manager after suffering a defeat to Liverpool penalties in the Super Cup on Wednesday evening. But as with the 4-0 loss to Manchester United last Sunday, Lampard has positives to take from the defeat in Istanbul as Chelsea caused the Champions League holders plenty of problems throughout the game. Chelsea will now turn their attention to their game against Leicester City and their Super Cup clash has given Lampard plenty of issues to consider ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge. Read more
Neymar: Paris St-Germain reject Barcelona & Real Madrid bids for Brazil forward (BBC)
Barcelona and Real Madrid have made unsuccessful offers for Paris St-Germain forward Neymar, says BBC Radio 5 Live’s Guillem Balague. Neymar’s former club Barcelona are believed to have offered 100m euros (£92.4m) plus Philippe Coutinho. Ivan Rakitic was also discussed with the French club as part of the deal for the 27-year-old Brazil international. Real have put forward a deal that includes money as well as Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez. Read more
Italy midfielder Zaniolo extends Roma contract (Punch)
Italian international midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo has extended his contract with Serie A side Roma, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 20-year-old rising star has been rewarded for a strong first season in Rome with a five-year deal that will keep him at the capital club until June 2024. Zaniolo joined Roma last summer in a deal which saw Radja Nainggolan move the other way to Inter Milan. Read more
Balotelli poised for move back to Italy with Brescia (Punch)
Mario Balotelli is poised for a return to Italy with newly-promoted home town team Brescia, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. Balotelli, who was born in Sicily but adopted and raised just outside the northern city, is set to sign a three-year deal with the Serie B champions after being released by Marseille in June, Gazzetta Della Sport and Sky Sport Italia reported. Gazzetta said the deal was worth roughly of three million euros ($3.3 million) including bonuses a season to the Italian international. Read more